Introducing Collections

I've been thinking about my process... and have honestly been collecting thoughts on it since I sold my first knife over a decade ago. What finishes would define Heartwood Forge? And how could I possibly stick to just one finish, process or material if I want to experiment, explore and grow as craftsperson? Additionally, how could I maintain consistency of my work if I am constantly searching for and using recycled materials? This has been a running internal dialogue for literally the last decade and it’s been consuming my mind even more recently as things have grown and we’ve transitioned to a single income household.

Recently, it clicked that if I simply defined collections based on the process & materials, I would be carving out space for experimentation and growth while at the same time increasing consistency. Having this in place (even briefly) has freed up mental space and brought more focus to my work.

Below, I’ve outlined the different collections that I’ve been producing over the years. As I’ve introduced virgin materials into my offerings, I have not cut back or reduced my use of recycled materials. It’s an ethos that I will never give up on.

I hope this helps clarify any questions and if it brings up new questions, shoot me an email. will@heartwoodforge.com

Classic: These are limited to 1-3 different designs which are hand forged from a classic, virgin 10-series carbon steel. Full tang construction, workhorse geometry and finish with simple, reclaimed handle materials.  These designs may vary from season to season or year to year.

Heritage: Each knife is one of a kind and hand forged from recycled carbon steel that has been chemically identified. Tapered, rounded spine and full tang construction for a balanced and comfortable hand feel. Finished by hand to a silky-smooth finish. Simple, performance oriented, recycled, heirloom quality. 

Artisan: This is the collection for my layered virgin steels, damascus, laminated, integral or special alloys along with premium handle materials. These blades are also one of a kind and a place for me to explore processes and materials of interest to me using premium materials. Some are experimental and some you will see again and again as tried and true alloys, processes and designs that I have fallen in love with.

Origin: Capturing the beauty of recycled materials has always been my passion. In true HWF fashion, this collection takes recycled materials and combines it with techniques of fusing and laminating. You’ll find my favorite materials, like suminagashi (multi layer laminate) using bourbon barrel straps from my Willett Barrel stash and recycled high carbon steel and more. My roots took hold to the dreams of these knives and it’s here where my roots remain.

2022 Shirt Pre-Order / Chefs Knife Giveaway

It’s time for the annual chefs knife giveaway and I’m excited to announce the arrival of the new 2022 Heartwood Forge artwork from friend and artist, Haypeep! As in years past, this new design will be sold only as preorders for automatic entry into the giveaway. This is technically a sweepstakes with no purchase necessary to win. Unlimited entries are allowed, so show your family some love and get them all outfitted in some new HWF swag. A winner will be selected on Father’s Day, June 19th, 2022. Shirts will ship early July.

Click link. >>> VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP TO START ENTERING <<< Click link.

ABOUT THE ARTIST Lovingly designed by my friend, Haypeep. Sage Perrott, aka Haypeep, is a printmaker originally from West Virginia. Her artwork features grumpy, lumpy, ghost-like creatures. Her prints, drawings, and zines have found their way into the hands of folks all over the world. Check out this Johnson City, TN-based artist and support her. She is also on Instagram @haypeep.

ABOUT THE SHIRTS Printed in Asheville, NC.

• Comfort Colors t-shirt

• Comfort Colors long sleeve

• Independent for the hoodies

WHAT ELSE YA GOT? Also counts as an entry

• Shop Hawg Tote Bags (also printed in Asheville, NC)

• HWF Sticker Pack

OFFICIAL RULES: Giveaway closes Fathers Day, June 19th, 2022. Enter as many times as you like. Fine print below.

WHEN IS THE WINNER DRAWN? Drawing will be held after the giveaway closes. Winner will be randomly selected and shipped the knife. Once the knife is received by the winner, HWF will announce winner.

WHEN DO YOU SHIP THE SHIRTS? Shirts will ship around July 1st.

ABOUT THE KNIFE: This hand forged damascus French chefs is made from layers of contrasting carbon steel that have been forge welded together and create a unique fingerprint or topographic pattern. The half full, half hidden tang handle is dressed in Yellow Cedar Burl (source: buddy in the PNW) with a green burlap bolster. 

• 12" overall length

• 7" blade length

• 158 grams

HOW TO ENTER: Simple, purchase any quantity of new swag from the online shop. For every $10 spent, your name will automatically be put into the hat! No purchase necessary, another way to enter is by mailing us a postcard with your name, shipping address, phone number & email address postmarked by June 19th.

Click link. >>> VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP TO START ENTERING <<< Click link.

Penland Endowment Fundraiser w/ Crafting the Future

“Nothing opens up the mind like the glimpse of a new possibility.”

— John O'Donohue

Racial disparities in this country exist even in the world of craft, where it sometimes feels like we’re operating above the realm of normal society. However, nearly 80% of working artists in America are white. (stat taken from this 2014 Washington Post article by Roberto Ferdman)

As craftspeople and supporters of fine craft, we are grateful to be part of a passionate and generous community. For many of us, having the opportunity to attend a craft school at some point has played a crucial role in the development of our skills and essential relationships with peers and mentors. We want equal access to craft for people of color.

Through this fundraiser, we have pooled what resources we have and partnered with Crafting the Future to help create an endowment that will fund recurring opportunities for underrepresented and emerging artists to attend Penland School of Craft.

Our hope with this initiative is to perpetuate more equitable access to the transformative craft school experience that Penland has cultivated for nearly a century.

All participants in the sweepstakes will be entered to win one of the fourteen gorgeous pieces below made by artists in our community! Every $10 you donate counts as a separate entry. So if you donate $100, you get 10 chances to win a prize!

FUNDRAISING GOALS

We are seeking to raise a minimum of $30,000. If we reach that goal, Crafting the Future has agreed to push us over the edge to meet the endowment minimum at Penland of $45,000.

The more we raise, the better. Here’s why:

 An endowment fund of $45,000* will enable one student each year to attend a two-week summer session class as a work-study student. This scholarship provides full tuition, room and board for students with a strong commitment to service and a desire to be integrated into the behind-the-scenes life of the school.

An endowment fund of $65,000* will enable one student each year to attend a two-week summer session class with no work requirement. This scholarship provides full tuition, room and board, and the invaluable gift of focused, uninterrupted studio time.

 An addition of $10,000* (applicable to either work-study or full ride) will enable the scholarship recipient to receive a stipend. This is often what prevents people from accepting an offer of a scholarship as bills continue at home or material fees combined with taking time off of work stand in the way of pursuing studies.

THE SCHOLARSHIP

The scholarship is awarded to BIPOC artists pursuing the study of craft at Penland. Recipients are selected by Crafting the Future and partnering youth arts organizations. CTF will be maintaining and administering the scholarship from now until the end of time!

WHAT IS “CRAFTING THE FUTURE”

Crafting the Future is a collective of artists concerned about the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the fields of craft, art, and design. We formed in order to change our community. Working together and combining resources, we support the careers of young, underrepresented artists by connecting them to opportunities that will help them thrive.

Crafting the Future works to diversify the fields of art, craft and design by connecting BIPOC artists with opportunities that will help them thrive. 

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Terrane Glass | Colin O’Reilly | @terraneglass

No. 12 Cocktail Set (Pitcher + 4 glasses)

The No. 12s combine facets & surface texture to create a comfortable, contemplative experience.  The pattern, born from hot glass cooling rapidly against cold steel created a captivating texture. Combined with the facets, every pour will beg you to ponder the wonders of life.

·      Pitcher Dimensions: 3.5” diameter x 6.25” height, 20 oz capacity

·      Glass Dimensions: 3.25” diameter x 3.75” height, 10 oz capacity

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Rusted Pulchritude | Deirdre McGrath & Aaron Margolis | @rustedpulchritude

A serving ladle with a hooked handle, carved by hand from locally sourced, Maine-grown maple wood. Accented with non-toxic artist oil paints and finished with a mixture of organic flax oil and candelilla wax.
12 1/2" long by 2" wide.

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Chase & Scout Jewelry | Elle Green | @chaseandscoutjewelry

Sterling silver and spectrolite pendant by Chase + Scout Jewelry

·      Sterling chain length of 16 - 20” to be chosen by winner

·      Pendant measures 2.5” x 3” 

·      handcrafted in Austin Texas

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Eric Cannizzaro | @eric.cannizzaro

A Continuous Arm Windsor rocking chair made from pine and oak using green woodworking techniques, finished with milk paints and shellac. 

·      parts split out from a log and shaped on the lathe or the shaving horse

·      steam bent single piece back/arm. 

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Olander CO Embroidery | Anna Hultin | @olandercoembroidery

SUMMER PLAINS LANDSCAPE
This hoop is a part of my Colorado Plains Series where I am studying the textures and colors in the landscape on the plains of Colorado. This large oval hoop comes with a felt backing ready to hang or display on a shelf. All of my designs are original and hand stitched.

·      This hoop finished with a felt backing for stability

·      This is a hand painted and hand stitched 8"x12" hoop

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Reid Schwartz | @reidschwartz

A carving oriented craft knife inspired by the ’not so uncrafy' folk traditions of Scandinavia and imbued with handwork and home-harvested materials from New Hampshire. The blade is wrought from repurposed bearing-steel, burned into the carved Hop Hornbeam handle, and complete with a pocket safe sheath of Birchbark - folded and bound with Hemlock root. 

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Oliver Pratt | @oliverpratt_handcraft

This bowl was turned green on a foot powered pole lathe. Turning the bowl before the wood has dried means that the bowl moves while it dries and ends up having a beautiful organic shape rather than the completely round bowls you get when turning dry wood. 

·      Open form, tulip shaped eating bowl

·      7 3/4" at rim

·      White Birch with dark green artist oil for color

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Matt Repsher | @repsherceramics

Wave Lantern

3 7/8" h. x 5 3/8" dia

Retail: $430

Wheel thrown and carved with colored slip inlays on the exterior. Corked base to protect table surfaces. Intended to be illuminated with a candle.

Armando Veve | @armandoveve

Title: The Knitter

Medium: graphite and colored pencil on paper

Size: 12.5 inches x 10 inches 

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Heart & Spade Forge | Jed Curtis | @heartandspadeforge

Set of hand forged No.10 & No.14 skillet, along with No.12 baker. Made from carbon steel for a slick, polished cooking surface which is easy to season and clean. Crafted in Roanoke, VA. 

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Matt Kelleher | @kelleherceramics

Erica Moody | @ericaemoody

Serving bowl and spoon, made in collaboration by Penland instructors Matt Kelleher, potter, and Erica Moody, metal craftsman.

·      Pottery bowl with lid: 5.25" dia x 3.75" total height.

·      Spreader of pressed brass and charred maple handle.  Approx.  6" long

·      Pieces uniquely made for each other, for serving your favorite blended accoutrements like hummus, soft pates, whipped butter, and...

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Brien Beidler | @bhbeidler

Hand bound by Brien Beidler in Bloomington, Indiana. Jam-packed with love, this is a handmade blank book measuring 6.25 x 6.25 x 1 inches.

Bound in black goatskin with sterling silver tooled board edges. With time, the silver will turn to a metallic black hue.

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Eva Leach | @evaleachpottery

Description: 3-piece dinnerware set with pitcher and serving bowl (four place settings - 14 pieces total). Red stoneware fired in a reduction atmosphere to 2345°F

- Bowls are 6" diameter, serving bowl is 9" diameter

- Dinner plates are 10" diameter

- Pitcher is 10" tall and can hold 48 oz (1.5 qts), tumblers can hold 10oz

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Heartwood Forge | Will Manning | @heartwoodforge

Hand forged in Jonesborough, TN using antique wrought iron salvaged from a California bridge laminated over a ball bearing carbon steel core. Handle is made from African Blackwood end cut from a Paris clarinet factory w/ a mahogany burl furniture makers scrap bolster.

• 5” blade / 10” over all

• 96 grams

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Crafting the Future Endowment Scholarship Sweepstakes

OFFICIAL RULES

No purchase or donation necessary to enter or win. Making a donation will not increase your chances of winning. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

Promotion Period:
The sweepstakes begins on Friday, August 28, 2020 at 6:00 AM ET and ends on Sunday, September 13 at 11:59 PM ET.

To Enter:
Participants may enter the sweepstakes by making a donation to the Crafting the Future Endowment Scholarship Fund at https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=HDpcpn.

To enter without making a donation to Penland School of Craft, please submit by mail a handwritten, self-addressed, and stamped envelope to Will Manning, 405 East Main Street, Jonesborough, Tennessee 37659. Envelopes must be post-marked by September 13, 2020.

Sponsor:
The sponsor of this sweepstakes is Will Manning of Heartwood Forge. By participating in the sweepstakes, each entrant unconditionally agrees to abide by the official rules and the decisions of the sponsor, which shall be final and binding. The sponsor is responsible for the overall administration of the sweepstakes.

2020 T-Shirt Pre-Order / Chefs Knife Giveaway

It’s time for the annual chefs knife raffle and I’m excited to announce the arrival of new Heartwood Forge artwork. This year’s shirt design will be sold via preorders as raffle entries. Unlimited entries are allowed, so show your family some love and get them all outfitted. A winner will be drawn and announced on June 8th. Shirts will ship around July 4th.

ABOUT THE ARTIST Lovingly designed by my friend, Wilson Kemp. Check out this Baltimore-based artist - he’s a solid dude and very talented freelance visual artist & illustrator. Support him. He is on Instagram @wilson.wk.

ABOUT THE SHIRTS Printed in Liberty, Maine using water based ink on certified organic cotton that has been grown, milled, cut, sewn and dyed domestically. These are my favorite shirts; they are ethically & environmentally sound and they get better with age. We’re only printing once, so when they're gone, they're gone. Available in black or hand-tie-dyed mellow-spiral. Each tie-dye will vary slightly and is one-of-a-kind.

OFFICIAL RULES: Enter as many times as you like. Each shirt ordered counts as an entry. *International shipping not included*

WHEN IS THE WINNER DRAWN? I’ll draw a winner on June 8th and the winner will be contacted via email or phone once selected. Drawing will be held on Monday, June 8th, 2020.

WHEN DO YOU SHIP THE SHIRTS? Shirts will ship when they are back from the print house - with an estimated delivery to our HQ by July 4th.

ABOUT THE KNIFE: This hand forged san mai French chefs is made from layers of antique bridge wrought iron and ball bearing carbon steel that have been forge welded together. San mai construction is a traditional Japanese technique and in my opinion, a sensible way to make a knife - the soft cladding allows the edge to be protected while being harder than a single-steel knife. The soft cladding also makes subsequent sharpening faster since more of the material removed is soft. The full tang handle is dressed in African Blackwood (source: clarinet factory in Paris) with a B&W ebony bolster. This knife is covered by my guarantee as though you purchased it from my newsletter.

• 13 5/8" overall length

• 8 5/8" blade length

• 202 grams

• Includes HWF soft zippered case

HOW TO ENTER: Simple, purchase any quantity of the new shirts. Number of shirts = number of entries.

Click link. >>> PURCHASE HERE TO ENTER <<< Click link.